SWAP

10.11.11

Deal Reached to Free Gilad Shalit

Bernat Armangue / AP Photo

A deal to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit has been reached. A tweet from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says, "We have concluded ardeous negotiations with #Hamas to release #Gilad #Shalit. He will be coming home in the next few days." The deal was reached with Hamas, the militant group that captured Shalit in 2006. His release won't come cheap: Hamas has confirmed that it would free Shalit in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners. The first 450 prisoners will be released within the week, with the rest freed two months later.